all of us are elected officials. all of us are concerned about our politics, both in our own parties as well as the other parties. but at some point we've got to do some governing. and certainly what we can't do is keep careening from manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis. as i said in the state of the union, the american people have worked hard and long to dig themselves out of one crisis. they don't need us creating another one. and unfortunately, that's what we've been seeing too much out there. the american people are out there every single day meeting their responsibilities, giving it their all to provide for their families and their communities. a lot of you are doing the same things in your respective states. we need that same kind of attitude here in washington. at the very least, the american people have a right to expect that from their representatives. and to i look forward to working with all of you. not just to strengthen our economy for the short term but also to re-ignite what has always been the